USDA released its January Livestock Slaughter Report this morning, showing 49,000 fewer dairy cows were sent to slaughter this January compared to a year ago. Keep in mind, however, that the last Cooperatives Working Together Round of the 2008 culling program was still being wrapped in January 2009. It likely accounted for many of those extra cull cows last year.

The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) and the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) applauded yesterday’s introduction of a House bill that would allow for open travel for all Americans to Cuba and further facilitate U.S. agricultural exports to that nation.

The U.S. ethanol industry exported 5.64 million metric tons (mmt) of distillers grains worth nearly $1 billion in 2009, shattering the previous record set in 2008, the Renewable Fuels Association reported recently.

Provimi North America announces a new line of milk replacer products under the brand name Nurture calf formula.

Arm & Hammer Animal Nutrition had made several upgrades to the business’ Web site, AHDairy.com, to provide the most useful and relevant information for on-farm dairy nutrition solutions.

National Milk’s Fourth Quarter 2009 Import Watch reports that milk protein concentrate (MPC) imports declined 18% in 2009 to 51,775 metric tons. This is also the lowest level of MPC imports in five years.